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(JACKSON, MS, October 17, 2023) Parents for Public Schools (PPS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Beth Lardie as its new Director of Development. In this role, Sarah Beth will lead the organization’s fundraising and development efforts, driving the mission to new heights and ensuring a bright future for PPS. Joann Mickens, executive director of PPS says, “We are excited about bringing Sarah Beth onto our staff. Her knowledge and experience are just what we need to build our capacity and help ensure our future sustainability.”

Sarah Beth brings nearly two decades of experience in advancing the mission, vision, and goals of non-profit and socially responsible for-profit companies and she has been instrumental in leading the financial growth and expansion of a wide range of successful organizations. Additionally, Sarah Beth has worked as a member of the founding leadership team of Joshua Venture, a fellowship program for social entrepreneurs where she was responsible for providing fellowships for 16 entrepreneurs across the United States. Further, she has also worked as a mentor with MIT’s LaunchX program and an advisor to the African Venture Philanthropy Network. With her track record of raising millions of dollars annually on behalf of her previous clients and organizations, PPS is confident that she will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our goals.

Sarah Beth is enthusiastic about joining our national office staff and had this to say of her new role: “I’m excited to be stepping into this role with PPS! I believe in public schools, and I’m a product of public schools. Additionally, my dad was elected to my local school board when I was in elementary school. Public schools are part of healthy, thriving communities and necessary to the future of economic, social, and political advancement in society – that’s why I want to help them secure the resources they need.”

Parents for Public Schools is dedicated to advancing the role of families and communities in securing a high-quality public education for every child. With Sarah Beth at the helm of our development efforts, we look forward to taking our organization to new heights and furthering our impact.

Please join us in welcoming Sarah Beth Lardie as our Director of Development. She officially assumed her role on October 15, 2023.

For more information about PPS and its mission, please visit https://parents4publicschools.org/.

About Parents for Public Schools

Parents for Public Schools, Inc. is a nonpartisan nonprofit that began in Mississippi more than 30 years ago by parents who organized to support public schools. Since its founding in 1991, PPS has become a diverse, national organization of community-based chapters whose mission is to advance the role of parents and communities in securing a high-quality public education for every child.